Jersey City brings new services to the HUB shopping plaza

Courtesy of the City of Jersey CityFrom left, Jersey City's Department of Housing, Economic Development & Commerce Director Carl Czaplicki, Councilpersons Michael Sottolano, Peter Brennan and Viola Richardson, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Deputy Mayor Tayari Kabili and Jersey City Redevelopment Agency Director Bob Antonicello, cut the ribbon to open three new city divisions at the MLK Plaza shopping center / HUB, Tuesday, September 22, 2009.
The City of Jersey City brought three new city services to the HUB shopping plaza with a ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday morning.

The divisions of Community Development, Tenant/Landlord Relations and Housing Code Enforcement have moved satellite offices into the Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce annex, which is located at 360 Martin Luther King Drive. In addition, a representative from the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission will be at the annex on Tuesdays and Thursdays for people to arrange sewer connections.

"People in Ward A and Ward F will not have to go to 30 Montgomery St. and try to find parking," Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy said at the ceremony. "They can get the services they need in their community."

"I think it says that there's a concern that people are able to access services. It will also bring more people to the HUB. For me its a win-win situation," said Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson who attended the event along with Ward A Councilman Michael Sottolano and Councilman at-large Peter Brennan.

The Division of Community Development helps residents and organizations access to such programs as Community Development Block Grants, the Homeowner Rebate Program and the First Time Homebuyers Program. The Division of Tenant/Landlord Relations advises tenants of their rights and mediates tenant-landlord disputes. Tenants can go to the Housing Code Enforcement Division for such issues as heat and hot water problems, abandoned buildings and illegal apartments.

An employee from Tenant/Landlord Relations and Housing Code Enforcement will be at the annex on Mondays and Fridays, Community Development will send a representative on Wednesdays.